Today, May 24, three members of the Russian Punk band, Pussy Riot, will have been detained for over 11 weeks, and will not be freed for at least another month, although the signs are that they are likely to be held much longer. They are charged with “hooliganism” for an unauthorized “flash” performance of the band’s Punk Moleben (Prayer) at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, in Moscow on February 21. This is an extraordinarily long time to be held in detention without trial, particularly for an act which did not involve violence or endanger others. It is a direct breach international standards that guarantee a prompt trial. Maria Alyokhina, Ekaterina Samusevich, and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova are being treated particularly severely because of the lyrics of the song, which are a harsh condemnation of the then Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and the Orthodox Church.

Background Information

To enable better understanding of the case, we are publishing a translation of the Punk Moleben and its context.  It contains some explicit content. Thanks to freepussyriot.org for the translation and explanatory notes.

This is a punk rock "moleben," a form of supplication or intercession prayer, in this case addressed to the Virgin Mary. Pussy Riot’s moleben is based on Rachmaninov’s Ave Maria. The words to the Rachmaninov piece are: Rejoice, O Virgin Mother of God,/Mary full of grace, the Lord is with thee:/blessed art thou among women,/and blessed is fruit of they womb/for thou has borne the saviour of our souls.

The Punk Moleben alternates verses in the style of traditional church choral singing and punk declamatory choruses with electric guitar background.

PUNK MOLEBEN – VIRGIN MARY PUT PUTIN AWAY

(chorus)

O Virgin Mother of God, put Putin away
Рut Putin away, put Putin away

(end chorus)

...

Black robe, golden epaulettes
All parishioners crawl to bow
The phantom of liberty is in heaven
Gay-pride sent to Siberia in chains

The head of the KGB, their chief saint,
Leads protesters to prison under escort
In order not to offend His Holiness
Women must give birth and love

Shit, shit, the Lord's shit!
Shit, shit, the Lord's shit!

(chorus)

O Virgin Mother of God, become a feminist
Become a feminist, become a feminist

(end chorus)

The Church’s praise of rotten dictators
The cross-bearer procession of black limousines
A teacher-preacher will meet you at school
Go to class - bring him money!

Patriarch Gundyaev believes in Putin
Bitch, better believe in God instead
The belt of the Virgin can’t replace mass-meetings
Mary, Mother of God, is with us in protest!

(Chorus)

O Virgin Mother of God, put Putin away
Рut Putin away, put Putin away

(end chorus)


About the significance of intercession prayer to the Orthodox Church, see here.

For video of Pussy Riot performing the song, see here.

Write A Letter

  • Protesting the detention of Maria Alyokhina, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, and Ekaterina Samusevich;
  • Pointing out that they are being treated particularly harshly because of the contents of the song lyrics;
  • Referring to Russia’s obligations under Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), ratified by Russia, which protects the right to freedom of expression;
  • Further referring to the fact that the women will be held for more than three months without trial, breaching Article 9 of the ICCPR, which guarantees the right not to be held in pre-trial detention for lengthy periods of time.

Send Your Letter To

Mr. Vladimir Putin
President of the Russian Federation
Kremlin
Moscow
Russia
Fax: +7 095 206 5173 / 230 2408
Send a message through the Kremlin web site

Please copy appeals to the diplomatic representative for Russia in your country if possible.